10Gb on budged with fiber — what should IP choose?

[Lev Serebryakov]

Hello Freebsd-net,

  I want to attach my DIY-NAS (FreeBSD-based) to my desktop (Windows-based)
 with 10Gb link. I could not afford 10Gb switch for sure. So, it will be
 point-to-point connection only for my desktop and not other computers in my
 house.

  Also, I could not use my current twisted pair wiring, as I need connection
 to router for my desktop too :) Cable ducts ion my house is overcrouded,
 so, I think only fiber is way to go, there is no chance to add CAT6 cable
 between my room and storage room with server, and copper SFP-to-SFP
 patchcord is out of question!

  So, I need cheap PCIe cards with SFP+ slots which is not very picky about
 modules (I'm on budget!), with good FreeBSD support and drivers for
 Win'10 (which is another problem with very old cards).

  What should I choose? There are A LOT of old 10Gb cards on eBay. Should I
 choose Mellanox ConnectiX-2? Chelsio-T3? Something else? Intel X520 looks
 as safe variant, but it is much more expensive and, as far as I know, it
 supports only expensive branded SFP+ modules, too.


P.S. You could never stop upgrading your home NAS.

-- 
Best regards,
 Lev                          mailto:lev at serebryakov.spb.ru